State electronic database of laws sealed from free public access

10/09/95

Mississippi--The state of Mississippi recently entered the brave new world of computerized statutes, but neither the press nor the public have free invitations to join, according to a statement made in mid-August by the Mississippi attorney general.

Mississippi's contract with a private publisher for the electronic housing of state laws seals off free public access to the newly created database, the attorney general declared.

State high court says cameras affect fair trial

06/16/95

MISSISSIPPI--The Supreme Court of Mississippi upheld a ban on cameras in the courtroom in early June. The state is one of only three that prohibits cameras in judicial proceedings. However, a concurring opinion by the high court's chief justice warned that there are serious constitutional questions about denying the media camera access.

Publisher claims arrest was attempt to tarnish image

05/30/95

MISSISSIPPI--A newspaper publisher who was arrested and then released in late May after surrendering to police in Jackson claims the arrest was politically motivated, and designed to tarnish his image shortly before a hearing on his criminal complaint against a city councilmember.

ATF releases sketches of person suspected of sending mail bombs to ABC president

08/09/1994

MISSISSIPPI -- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in late July released sketches of the person it suspects of sending package bombs to the president of ABC.

In mid-May, a parcel bomb addressed to ABC President Robert Iger was sent from Mobile, Ala., to ABC headquarters in New York, but it did not explode, said James Cavanaugh, special agent in charge of the ATF office in Birmingham, Ala.

Generally, a member of the public should seek access to a meeting and be turned away before filing a complaint with the Mississippi Ethics Commission or with the chancery court. It is a good idea to question members of the public body concerning what went on in executive session. If they will respond, this can be a way of establishing the public body wrongfully considered non-exempt matters in executive session. There is no official administrative procedure for challenging closed meetings.

Rule 4.03(3) of the Mississippi Uniform Circuit and County Court Rules, as amended, provides that "[w]here movant has served a memorandum or brief, respondent may serve a reply within ten (10) days after service of movant's memorandum or brief. A rebuttal memorandum or brief may be served within five (5) days of service of the reply memorandum."